The Team Building Workshop organized by the Centre for Counselling and Health Services (CCHS) on the 3rd and 4th of February 2025 at the Smart Room, Christ University, Pune Lavasa, served as a dynamic space for fostering collaboration, trust, and effective communication among MA English with Digital Humanities (MA EDH) students. Through a thoughtfully structured series of interactive activities and reflective sessions, the two-day event promoted personal growth, strengthened interpersonal bonds, and deepened the sense of community within the academic space.
Day one focused on immersive, hands-on exercises designed to build trust, improve coordination, and encourage teamwork. One of the most memorable and energizing activities was the Human Knot. Students stood in a circle, each grabbing random hands across from them, forming a tangled human web. The challenge was to untangle themselves through coordinated movement and mutual cooperation without letting go of each other’s hands. This task not only fostered collective thinking and patience but also highlighted the value of clear communication and mutual understanding—skills that are fundamental in both academic and professional environments.
Another powerful exercise, the Strength Circle, invited each participant to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths they saw in their peers. This activity sparked a sense of positivity and emotional connection, helping to build a culture of affirmation and peer support within the group. It created a space where each individual felt recognized, empowered, and valued for their unique contributions.
Creative tasks like Group Story Building and Mirror Me brought an element of fun and spontaneity to the workshop. Group Story Building allowed students to collectively create a narrative, building upon each other’s ideas, while Mirror Me challenged them to imitate each other’s movements in perfect sync. These exercises promoted quick thinking, adaptability, teamwork, and mutual attentiveness—skills essential in academic collaboration and real-world problem-solving alike.
On the second day, the focus shifted from group interaction to introspection and personal growth. The Vision Board activity was a space for students to map out their academic and personal aspirations using drawings, magazine cut-outs, symbols, and motivational words. It helped students gain clarity about their goals and visualize the steps needed to achieve them. This creative process not only encouraged goal-setting but also reinforced the power of visualization in personal development.
This was followed by the Letter to My Future Self activity, where students wrote heartfelt messages reflecting on their current challenges, dreams, and the kind of person they hoped to become. It offered a grounding moment for self-reflection and empowered them to move forward with a greater sense of purpose and determination.
The final activity, the Appreciation Circle, allowed participants to express gratitude and acknowledge the impact of their peers. It was an emotionally resonant conclusion to the workshop, leaving everyone with a sense of connection, encouragement, and unity.
Overall, the two-day workshop skillfully combined play, reflection, and creativity to create a supportive and empowering experience. It enhanced students’ ability to collaborate, communicate, and self-reflect—key attributes for both academic success and personal growth. The experience instilled lasting values of empathy, mutual respect, and shared growth within the cohort, setting a strong foundation for their journey ahead.
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